Both teams have crashed the top 10 after beginning the season standing on the fringes, with fairly mild expectations. But that has changed as the Irish are ranked third and the Hurricanes No. 7 heading into the showdown.
They get it done differently, but both teams boast powerful offenses and a host of playmakers.
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| Josh Adams makes Notre Dame's ground game go (Bleacher Report) |
The Irish (8-1) are beasts on the ground, ranking fifth nationally in rushing yards per game (324.8) and scoring 34 touchdowns. Heisman candidate Josh Adams has been special, rambling for nearly 1200 yards and scoring nine touchdowns. His 8.7 yards per carry is sixth in the country, and a testament to just how Notre Dame is up front.
"Their offensive line, probably the best in America," Miami coach Mark Richt said. "I don't think very many people would argue that. ... Very experienced but very, very talented. They're paving the way, over 300 yards per game rushing and this isn't triple-option football. This is just line up and physically move people off the ball, a kick-your-tail type offensive line and great runners."
Quarterback Brandon Wimbush is also a running threat, rolling up 639 yards and 13 touchdowns with his legs. He showed a new dimension in last week's 48-37 win over Wake Forest -- the deep ball. Wimbush connected on just 50 percent of his 30 passes, but amassed nearly 300 yards and averaged 9.3 yards per attempt. While still a work in progress, the Irish passing attack is becoming something that needs to be accounted for.
Joe Jackson and R.J. McIntosh anchor a defensive front that will be tested by the Irish, and the Hurricanes may just be up to the challenge. Miami is 10th in the country in tackles for loss and 11th in sacks, and it all starts up front. The energy of the Hurricanes defensive line gets the rest of the team going, and though the numbers aren't eye-popping, the fact that they have allowed just four rushing touchdowns all season certainly is.
"It's an outstanding front four," Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly said. "The linebackers run and tackle as well as any group that we've played. ... They can play a number of different coverages by keeping three linebackers on the field and that's pretty hard to do today in college football. A unique skill-set in that group."
Notre Dame will be challenged defensively by Miami quarterback Malik Rosier Jr, who is gaining his footing in his first year as a starter. Rosier has thrown 19 touchdowns to just seven interceptions, but has been kept under wraps the last two weeks with subpar games against North Carolina and Virginia Tech. Rosier can also hoof it, picking up double digits carries in five of the last six contests and finding the end zone three times via the rush.
Travis Homer has been more than an able replacement at running back for injured Mark Walton, picking up over 600 yards and rushing for six touchdowns. He is also a safety net for Rosier in the passing game, which ranks 23rd in the nation.
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| Braxton Berrios (8) is a dangerous weapon in Miami's air attack (Palm Beach Post) |
Braxton Berrios leads Miami in receiving with 36 catches and seven touchdowns, and is a real thorn in the side for opposing defenses. Whenever the Hurricanes need a big pass play they look to Berrios, who has 23 grabs for first downs this season.
The Irish will need to disrupt Miami's passing game if it wants to keep the Hurricanes offense off of the field.
Notre Dame doesn't have a true standout up front, though Jerry Tillery -- three sacks, 5.5 tackles for loss and a forced fumble -- comes close.
While the Irish defense has been up and down for much of the season, the offense has been a machine.
"I think when we broke through with over 500 yards rushing against Boston College, I think that that was really where everything started to kind of show itself, that this is who we were going to be," Kelly said. "And then it's certainly taken shape from there."
Last year's 4-8 fiasco seems like ages ago, and the Irish are once again in the forefront of college football relevancy.
“Playing great. Super hot team. Beating people by big margins, one of the best defensive teams in the country, one of the best offensive teams in the country," Richt said.
They say that November is when championships are won, and both teams have plenty on the line.
Notre Dame is squarely in the hunt for a berth in the College Football Playoff, its one loss coming at home to No. 1 Georgia.
Miami is unbeaten after a pasting of Virginia Tech last week, its first real opposition of the season. The Hurricanes dominated in nearly every aspect, and have the look of a true national contender. Whether or not the burden of expectation is too much remains to be seen, but the big stage is there and waiting -- GameDay will host its show from Miami, and the game will have millions of eyes watching as the ABC national contest.
Notre Dame has won five of the last six matchups, including last year's 30-27 thriller in South Bend. The Hurricanes won 27-10 in 1989, the last time the teams played in the Sunshine State, but have just seven wins in the series.
Richt knows first hand about the Irish magic, as he was on the losing end of a 16-14 heartbreaker in 1982 as a member of the Hurricanes.
“That’s a long time ago, when I was a player," he recounted. "I got my heart broken in South Bend one time. … One time, I went there and got knocked out and another time I went there and got my heart broke when, I think, Blair Kiel was the quarterback and had a last-minute drive to set them up in field goal range to beat us. I don’t remember exactly what it was. … lost that one, but had a chance to win it. … It’s a cool place to go to, for sure. The tradition has been going on there, for obviously, over 100 years.”
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